Scaffold.



A. N. FAULKNER.

scAFoLn.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1914.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916. Y

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ALBERT N. FAULKNER., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SCAFFOLID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 20, 1914. Serial No. 873,142.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT N. FAULKNER, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of New York, in the borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovenients in Scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to scaffolds, and has for its object to provide an improved device, which maybe used for a platform of a scaffold, or a step or other ladder, as the case may require.

ln the construction of scaffolds, platforms are provided therefor, which carry a very heavy weight, and in building platforms, to stand the strain exertedV thereupon, it has been necessary to build them of metal or large timbers, which makes the same very heavy, and consequently not easy to handle.

One of the objects of the present invention is to construct a platform for scaffolds of light material, .which may be reinforced to lstrengthen the same, whereby consider able weight may be placed thereupon, and the danger of the same giving away is overcome.

The invention also seeks to provide a device of this character which will be neat in appearance, durable when in use, and comparatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture` thereby rendering the same commercially desirable.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination, formation and arrangement of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and more particularlv pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be best understood by having reference to the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a platform embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is ya detailed perspective view of one corner of the platform; Fig. 4 is a detailed longitudinal section; and Fig. 5 is a detailed transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the side rails l and 2 of the platform are arranged in parallel relation, and connected together` by means of a plurality of rounds 3. Theplaty' form when in use is generally supported at each end thereof, .and the greatest stress is upon the medial portions ofthe side rails,

and to helpl to overcome this strain, the medial portions of the side rails are broadest, and from there the rails taper toward their ends. In the manufacture of platforms for scaifolds, it is necessary to construct them of very light material, so that they will carry as little weight as possible, but at the same time, they should be very strong,

undergo the strains which they are subject to. .j

of the present invention is preferably made of'wood or similar' light'material, andthe side rails thereof are reinforced .by means of wired cables 4, which rest within the grooves 5, formed within the lower walls ofl Patented Jan. i1, i916.

0' so asto wings 9, which rest upon the rails, and are permanently connected thereto. `Passing through the side wings and theV rails are rivets 10, and the ltop portions 'of the brackets are secured in place by means of the screws4 .11.` The ends of the cables 4t. pass over the body portion of the bracket, and rest within the grooves formed therein, but terminate within the inverted truncated conically-shaped sockets 12, formed within the brackets adjacent the upper ends thereof.

The ends of the cables are spliced when placed within the sockets 12, and solder or suitable filling 13 is placed within the socket, thereby forming a rigid connection between the brackets and the cables. By having inverted cone-shaped sockets 12, it is obvious that the greater the pull upon the cables, the ends thereof will be more securely'wedged within the sockets, and thereby form a more rigid connection.

rlhe lower extremities of the brackets are provided with a pairy of spaced lugs or projections 16, which, before applied to use, are in the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and when in use, they are bent over upon the cables, so as to grip the same, which also helps to make a more rigid con nection between the brackets and the cables.

The platform forming the subject matter Y y To retain the cables within the grooves 5 or the like, the planking l5, as disclosed inA dotted lines in Fig. 2, may be placed upon the rounds 3, but the device may also be used as a step-ladder, when the planking is' removed, By making the device out of timber, withV the exception of the main reinforcing means, a very light structure is provided, which will not only beinexpensive to make, but can be easily handled, owing to its' lightness in weight.

YVhereas, l' have shown one embodiment of the present invention for carrying out the purpose of the saine, it is, of course, to be understood that other changes, as to form, or modifications,v may be resorted to, that come within the scope'of the invention without departing from the spirit ot' sacrificing the efficiency .of the saine.

What claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is:

l. In an improved scatfo'ldthe combination with side rails, and means for connectingthe same, the lower walls of the side rails having grooves therein, of brackets secured to the ends of said side railshaving rounded portions engaging the lower portionsotl the ends of the said side rails, and provided with K groovesregistering with the grooves or" said side rails, and extending to the upper edge of the said rails, each having an inverted, truncated, conically-shaped socket extending substantially to the upper side ofV said side rails, and formed continuous with the said grooves, cables resting within said groovesk and extending over said brackets, the eX- treinities of the cables bein@` enlarged and 2: b resting within the sockets to form a rigid connection between the cables and the brackets and luOs carried b the brackets at the lower ends thereof adjacent the grooves of the said side rails, for gripping the cables, and prevent-ing dislodgment of lthe saine, from the said grooves.

2. ln an improved 'scaiiold, the combination with side rails and means Jfor .connecting the same, the lower walls of the side rails having grooves therein, or'. brackets secured to the ends ofsaid side rails, having rounded portions engaging the lower portions of the ends of the said side rails, and provided with grooves registering with the grooves of said side rails, and extending to the upper edge of said rails,feach having an inverted, truncated, conically-shaped socket extending substantially to the upper side of said side i rails, and formed continuous with the said grooves, cables resting within said grooves and extending oveij\said brackets, the extremities of the cables being nnraveled and adapted to rest within the said sockets, a 65 filling adapted to rest within the sockets forv the forming of a rigid connection between the cables and the brackets, and lugs carried by the brackets at the lower ends thereof adjacent the grooves of the said side rails,

ALBERT N. FAULKNER.

Witnesses:

F. Hose.,

JOS. BIsBANo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, LD. C. 

